Reliant gearbox/diff question

[stryker]

Hi there,

Has anyone here had experience of working with a reliant 850cc gearbox such as the one found in a rialto? I've got the robin haynes manual but just wondered if someone can give me more useful info based on experience.

1. The clutch lever can be mounted on either side of the gearbox. Is it a difficult job to swap over?

2. The rialto had a higher ratio diff giving less RPMs at any given gear..... can the rialto diff gears be used in a reliant robin diff casing/axle?

The reason I ask, I wanted to replace the very old 850cc engine in my trike and I also wanted to build a nice trailer. To this end I got hold of a rialto2 from the local scrappers (it had been rolled over... perfect!).

I've since read the rialto2 sported a tweaked 850cc engine (great!) and it has the higher ratio diff. To avoid a load of welding I was hoping I could simply swap over the diff gears with my trike diff as the casings look the same.

Thanks in advance.

[TaxiDave]

I think its over to Odie to answer that one for you

[Yoda]

Hi there,

2. The rialto had a higher ratio diff giving less RPMs at any given gear..... can the rialto diff gears be used in a reliant robin diff casing/axle?


the simple answer is yes
BUT
i have recently gone through three diff (in the same diff casing)
I originally had a robin axle/diff
then i had a specialy buily low ration Diff fitted
then i had the rialto Diff fitted (but something had to be milled down a little..i dont exactly know what (as i had a reliant guy do all the work) but it is in and working fine).

Yoda

[stryker]

Yay, thanks for the info peeps.

Yeah, I've consulted the reliant haynes manual and I've decided I'd not want to try swapping the diff internals so I think I may have a mechanic try it for me :)

I know about the rarity of my find.... I think there were only about 150 of the B reg rialto 2s made!! The engine (touch wood) appears to be in good condition. Between the improved engine and the higher diff ratio people were getting some good performances with the realto 2. I've even seen mentioned around 100mpg at 56Mph !!! now my trike is about 1/3 the weight of the rialto 2, so I wonder what I'll get for my petrol? heheheheh

[odie]

The rialto gear box is pretty much the same gearing as the robin BUT you will need to check your starter motor mount as they changed them for a different type on some of the railtos (non bendix type starters) I came across this and you have to take the fly wheel off to fix!
ratio's in the rear axle, the ratio that every one wants is the one from the rialto 2 it has a 2.78 to 1 ratio (look under rocking horse poo in the dictionary)standard ratio is 3.2 to 1 what this means is you will pull off slower but have more mid range and top speed for your given rpm
They only made the rialto 2 for 1 year but they couldnt take 4th gear below 40mph with 10 inch wheels fitted!
To check what ratio you have set the wheels on the axle, place the tyre valves at the bottom of the rim and push the axle forwards and count how many times the pinion turns ( the bit the prop bolts to) if its more than 3 and a quarter turns you have a robin van diff or if its more than 4 you have a regal diff (keep regal diff and flog it to some-one whos doing a chain drive trike as the casing splits into 3 sections)
hope this help and have fun :D